My dropshot rig is a bit.... flacid?

[Fish the Mitt]

Disclaimer: I'm new to rigging dropshots!

 

I recently took the warming trend as an opportunity to work on my rigs - since I haven't got my boat out yet. Upon rigging my first drop shot, I saw something that seemed to be an issue in my mind. Before I get into the details of that, let me explain my setup so we're all on the same page.

Hook: Size 1 Gamakatsu EWG split/dropshot
Weight: 1/4oz pencil dropshot sinker (locally made)
Bait: StrikeKing Dreamshot 4" (Green Pumpkin for what it matters)

 

So the issue is the Dreamshot seems to almost be too heavy. While the hook is completely perpendicular to the line, once I add the Dreamshot, it lies completely parallel (against the line). This is to be somewhat expected out of water but it does the same thing in water. I guess I expected it to remain a little more perpendicular with more action. It seems just kind of...flacid.

I am not sure if I am doing something way wrong or if I should look at a more buoyant worm....

 

Regards,

 

Rick

 

[BobP]

I tie dropshot hooks with a Palomar knot and then insert the tag end of the line through the hook eye and down to the weight.  That makes the hook stand out perpendicular to the line.  It also pulls the knot inside the eye to give it a little extra protection.  No problem with the plastic drooping down parallel to the line when I do this.   

[Choporoz]

I haven't done in-water observation, so I don't know for certain, but do know they work, so I'll bet they're closer to neutrally buoyant than you realize.  Just a little wave action, current or rod tip vibration must be enough to make them erect enough to get the fish interested.

[Fish the Mitt]

2 minutes ago, BobP said:

I tie dropshot hooks with a Palomar knot and then insert the tag end of the line through the hook eye and down to the weight.  That makes the hook stand out perpendicular to the line.  It also pulls the knot inside the eye to give it a little extra protection.  No problem with the plastic drooping down parallel to the line when I do this.   

I don't have a problem with the hook staying perpendicular. The hook; when bare, stands completely perpendicular to the line. Nice 90 degree angle. However, when I add that Dreamshot, it goes completely limp - even in the water.

I expected it to stand off the line more and have some action to it. It just looks...dead.

 

[papajoe222]

Are you nose hooking the bait?

[Gundog]

59 minutes ago, SemperBass said:

I don't have a problem with the hook staying perpendicular. The hook; when bare, stands completely perpendicular to the line. Nice 90 degree angle. However, when I add that Dreamshot, it goes completely limp - even in the water.

I expected it to stand off the line more and have some action to it. It just looks...dead.

 

I agree with BobP. Give his advice a try. Putting the tag end through the eye of the hook again does make it stiffer, for the lack of a better word. I use dreamshots and haven't had a problem with it hanging straight down. It does droop abit but just the slightest movement makes it dance. If the problem still happens VMC has something called a spinshot drop shot hook. 

[Fish the Mitt]

15 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Are you nose hooking the bait?

Yep

1 minute ago, Gundog said:

I agree with BobP. Give his advice a try. Putting the tag end through the eye of the hook again does make it stiffer, for the lack of a better word. I use dreamshots and haven't had a problem with it hanging straight down. It does droop abit but just the slightest movement makes it dance.

I will have to see if I did that. I believe I did but now I'm second guessing myself.

[Gundog]

I like to hook the dreamshot by inserting the point of the hook into the nose and then out. Like if you were going to texas rig it. 

[Fish the Mitt]

18 minutes ago, Gundog said:

I like to hook the dreamshot by inserting the point of the hook into the nose and then out. Like if you were going to texas rig it. 

Interesting. I can see how rigging it that way would keep the front 1/2 up more. I am going to try that and see if it makes a difference!!

[Kevin22]

I do the same as gundog when using heavier drop shot baits. 

The longer the bait is in the water the more water it will absorb and the more "neutral" it will get. I have no experience with that bait though. Seems odd that it would sink and be called a drop shot bait. 

[Fish the Mitt]

2 minutes ago, Kevin22 said:

I do the same as gundog when using heavier drop shot baits. 

The longer the bait is in the water the more water it will absorb and the more "neutral" it will get. I have no experience with that bait though. Seems odd that it would sink and be called a drop shot bait. 

I'll admit, I didn't run it in the water very long. Perhaps that's part of the problem too.

[Kevin22]

It shouldn't need to be in the water for a long time to work right, it should work right out of the package. I'm just saying what will happen eventually. I personally wouldn't use a bait that didn't work right out of the package. 

 

Might send an email to SK explaining what is happening and ask for advise. They made it, they can tell you how to make it work. Check for grigsby articles on it also, I know he likes to use it a lot (he might have designed it actually). 

[J Francho]

The bait works fine.  I use a floating bait for tight line DS presentations, and a sinking bait when I allow the bait to drop on a slightly slack line, and then lift/repeat.  In all cases, I use a much heavier weight than 1/4 oz.  1/2 oz. is a starting point; it's usually a bit heavier.  Once the weight is in place, I do not want it to move.  Hard to accomplish with a 1/4 oz. weight.

[blckshirt98]

I'm also thinking you didn't put the tag end back through the eye of the hook.  If you don't loop the tag end back through the eye of the hook it'll sag like a limp fish once you add a plastic  Also make sure the knot on the hook didn't shift, sometimes it'll push down into the eye of the hook/under the hook, make sure it's "back and up" away from the hook, so to speak.  Also when you tie your palomar make sure you put the line into hook eye first from the top down.

[J Francho]

Its a dense bait.  It will always sink, pulling the hook down, especially a light DS hook.  It's how the bait is supposed to work.  It's meant for much more aggressive rod input (KVD is not known to sit perfectly still for more than a few milliseconds). If you want the bait to suspend straight out from the hook at rest, use a bait that floats.  It's as simple as that.

[OkobojiEagle]

Z-man worm works pretty well, as does my home-tied bunny strip leach... both quite buoyant.

 

oe

[Fish the Mitt]

I certainly appreciate the responses. I have a few things to try:

1. Ensure I looped the tag end back through the eye
2. Modify the way I hooked the Dreamshot
3. I have a ton of other softbaits I can always work with to see what fits my fancy! Might throw some of them on just to compare.

Again, I appreciate the responses. Helps me out tremendously as I learn my way around a dropshot rig.

[K_Mac]

Part of the allure of a dropshot is that it is a little "flacid". A bait does not have to be moving aggressively to be effective. Sometimes just the opposite is true.

[Fish the Mitt]

UPDATE

I went out today with my daughter to do a little fishing at some local spots. I through a quick drop shot rig on her new 5' Lady Zebco (pink of course) and kept in mind what everyone said here. I ensured I dropped that tag end back through the eye before tieing on my sinker as well as attaching the 4" Fishog Blue paddle tail to the hook like Gundog shows. It made a world of difference in standing off the line alot better under weight!!

 

Also threw the dreamshot on it to ensure it wasn't strictly bait related.

[Fishes in trees]

My favorite drop shot are the Gamakatsu Wicked Wacky hooks.  Tie a palomar knot with a long end, like normal and the wicked wacky has a small tube glued to the shank of the hook.   Run your line through the tube and then attach the drop shot weight.   Works perfect for me, a 3/0 thru 5/0 for my Bubba drop shot gear and the 1/0 for finesse applications.  How is always straight on the one, which reduces twist somewhat and the plastics always hang right.   Try that hook and see if that makes it better.

[Fish the Mitt]

First drop shot bass 

[Gundog]

Congrats SemperBass

[Fish the Mitt]

Just now, Gundog said:

Congrats SemperBass

Thanks! The dink ain't nothing to write home about but it sure feels good learning and seeing it pay off. You guys were tremendous in helping me out and giving me pointers. Love the way you hook yours too @Gundog!! Definitely my go to from now on!

[smalljaw67]

9 hours ago, SemperBass said:

First drop shot bass 

 

That dink is how you start, congrats!!!!! The hardest part of learning a new technique is getting the bugs out and then catching your first fish, no matter what the size. You executed it perfectly!!! You were rigging your bait but felt you weren't doing it exactly right and you asked, you were given some good information and you applied that information to what you were doing and it resulted in a catch, what you did was spot on and now you have another weapon to add to the arsenal, good job all around.